Electrical receptacle.



P. J. R ssELL, ELEGTRIGAL REOEPTAGLE. APPLICATION IIISED SEPT. 25, 1908.

Patented Nov. 23,1909

E I i UNTTED STATES PATENT D FENCE.

FRANK J. RUSSELL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRICAL RECEPTAGLE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK J. RUssELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kew York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Receptacles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the subject of electrical receptacles of the type adapted to receive and connect with the standard forms of electrical connecting plugs, and has particularly in view a novel construction and mounting of the plug holder, commonly termed the lamp holder, of the receptacle.

To this end the invention contemplates a simple and practical form of plug holder admitting of a minimum number of parts in the construction of the receptacle, and at the same time, only requiring a single fastening for holding the plug holder in place and maintaining an electrical connection between the same and one of the line wire terminals.

As a general object, the invention aims to provide a plug holder of extreme simplicity and capable of being formed from a single, and comparatively short, length of spring wire, having but a single loop or convolution adapted to receive the lamp plug under tension, and with sufficient firmness so as to prevent the lamp from working out of place.

Furthermore, it is the purpose of the invention to provide a simple, though effectual, mounting of the improved plug holder in such relation to the wire terminals, and the center plug contact, as to secure an extra wide separation of opposite-polarity parts, while at the same time being well housed within the receptacle body, though in such proximity to the mouth of the plug receiving socket or hole that the lamp plug is likewise permitted to be well housed inside of the receptacle body, and in a position close to the surface on which the receptacle is mounted, thus giving to the receptacle all of the desirable functions of that class of fittings which are known in the trade as weatherproof electrical receptacles.

Also, the invention contemplates a form of plug holder, and a novel mounting therefor that permits the porcelain, or receptacle body being made of smaller dimensions, and at the same time stronger and better reinforced, than the ordinary forms of porcelains equipped with the common screw shell Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. September 25, 1908.

Patented Nov. 23, 1909.

Serial no. 454,763.

terminals, and other forms of plug holders presenting a greater engaging surface or area than the single-loop plug holder claimed herein.

With these and other objects in view,

which will readily appear to those familiar with the art, as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed. The essential features involved in carrying out the objects above indicated, are nec essarily susceptible to structural modifications, and also to embodiment in different forms of receptacles, without departing from the scope of the invention, but a preferable construction is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an electrical receptacle fitted with the mprovements contemplated by the present invention. Fig. 2 is a front end view of the receptacle, exposing the parts therein. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1, showing the seating of the supporting legs of the holder in the retaining groove of the receptacle body. Fig. & is a detail elevation from one side of the singleloop plug holder. Fig. 5 is a detail in perspective of the single-loop plug holder.

Like references designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the receptacle body is designated in its entirety by the reference nu meral 1. This body is constructed of porcelain or equivalent insulating material, and is usually of the well known cylindrical or round form, although it will be understood that the improvements claimed herein are necessarily applicable to any electrical. receptacle designed for general use with lamp plugs or extension circuit plugs.

In the form of receptacle shown in the drawings, the same is constructed, preferably, with an integral solid or closed bottom portion 2, and in what may be termed its front side, has formed therein a comparatively deep plug receiving socket or hole 3, which is closed in at the bottom by said bottom portion 2. Also, for the purposes of the present invention, it is preferable in the formation of the porcelain receptacle body 1, to construct the same within the lower part of the socket or hole 3, with a reduced inner guiding bore 4 which is of less diameter than the mouth or front opening of the socket 3, and which materially assists in guiding the lamp plug into proper registration with the receptacle, and hence into firm electrical contact with the center plug contact. It will be observed that the forming of the receptacle body with the inner reduced guiding bore produces, within the body, at an intermediate point between the bottom and mouth of the socket, an annular interior guard shoulder 5 immediately beyond which is arranged the single loop of the plug holder in the manner to be presently explained.

The plug-receiving socket 3 accommodates within the bottom thereof a center plug contact (5 of any suitable form, but preferably consisting of a doubled, U, or similarly shaped, spring plate presenting the free arm thereof within the bottom portion of the receptacle, and the other arm of which re ceives a combined fastening and conducting screw 7, passing through a hole in the bottom of the receptacle and engaging a threaded opening in the wire terminal plate 8 held within a seating cavity or recess 9 on the outer side of the receptacle bottom 2, and fitted with the usual binding post or screw 10 for the line wire connection.

The important and distinctive feature of the present invention resides in the side plug contact, which is also designed to act in the capacity of a holder for the lamp or other electrical plug. This combined plug holder and side plug contact is designated in its entirety by the reference number 11, and consists of a single, comparatively short, length of spring wire bent or coiled spirally, as at 12, into a single loop or convolution, the spiral disposition of which convolution or loop provides what may be termed a single thread or section of thread which yieldingly embraces the threaded connecting plug under spring tension, thus insuring a firm, electrical, contact as well as. a

secure and reliable holding means for the,

plug. At the ends of the single spiral holding loop or convolution 12, the separate portions of the wire are bent at substantially right angles to the transverse plane of the loop 12 to provide the parallel or approximately parallel supporting legs 18 which i are adapted to be seated within a longitudinal retaining groove 14: formed in the wall of the receptacle at one side of the socket 3. At what may be termed the inner end of said groove let, the bottom portion of the receptacle body is further recessed to provide a fastener seat 15 receiving the inner terminals of the legs 18 and also the head of a combined conducting and fastening screw 16. This screw extends through a hole in the receptacle bottom and connects with the other wire terminal plate 17 seated in a recess on the outside of the receptacle bottom and carrying the usual binding post or screw 18. A simple and effective fastening for the plug holder is shown as consisting in having the head of the screw 16 engaging notches or shoulders 19 formed in or on the inner extremities of the legs 13. However, other equivalent fastening means may be employed without departing from the invention.

It will be noted that the single spiral loop or convolution 12 is preferably of greater diameter than the inner guard shoulder 5 and overlies the latter, so that any tendency of the plug to carry the loop too far inward, will be checked or arrested by said shoulder.

Other practical advantages for the construction herein described, will readily appear to those familiar with the art without further description, and it will be understood that changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without depart-ing from the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

I claim:

1. In an electrical receptacle, the body having a plug receiving socket, and a wire plug holder having a single spiral holding loop.

2. In an electrical receptacle, the body, and a plug holder consisting of a single length of spring wire provided with a single spiral holding loop or convolution.

3. In an electrical receptacle, the body, the line wire terminals, and a plug holder consisting of a single length of spring wire supported from one of said terminals and bent to provide a single spiral holding loop.

l. In an electrical receptacle, the body, the line wire terminals, and a plug holder consisting of a single spiral wire loop having terminal supporting legs connected with one of the line wire terminals.

In an electrical receptacle, the body, the line wire terminals, and a plug holder consisting of a single spiral wire loop havsubstantially right angles to the loop and connected with one of the line wire terminals.

6. In an electrical receptacle, the receptacle body having an interior annular guard shoulder, and a plug holder consisting of a single spiral wire loop arranged within the receptacle body above said shoulder. I 7. In an electrical receptacle, the receptacle body provided in its inner side with a longitudinally arranged retaining groove, the line wire terminals, and a spring wire plug holder having supporting members seated in said groove and connected'with one of the line wire terminals.

mg terminal supporting legs disposed at 8. In an electrical receptacle, the recep- V tacle body, the line wire terminals, a wire plug holder having a pair of supporting legs provided with notched ends, and a screw in connection with one of the line wire terminals and having its head engaged with said notched ends of the supporting legs.

9. In an electrical receptacle, the receptacle body provided with a plug receiving socket and within the inner part of said] socket with a reduced guiding bore, and a l spring wire plug holder arranged Within the socket outside of said reduced bore.

10. In an electrical receptacle the combination with a receptacle body, of a plug holder comprising a single spiral wire loop having angularly disposed supporting legs 15 located side by side and spaced apart, and means securing the terminal portions of the legs to the receptacle body.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. 2o

FRANK J. RUSSELL.

Witnesses THEo. S'roLL, DAvn) E. DANIELSON. 

